Associations/Memberships

Current Hospital Privileges

Upstate University Hospital

Crouse Hospital

Publications

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Research Abstract

My research includes studies of the red blood cell membrane skeleton in patients with inherited hemolytic anemia. We are using techniques of comparative proteomics to identify new defects in red blood cell proteins that lead to spherocytosis. We also use mouse models with targeted deletion of red blood cell proteins in order to understand the molecular basis for membrane fragility. We have focused on the family of adducin proteins and we have demonstrated with knockout mice that adducin has a role in red blood cell stability, learning and memory formation, and hydrocephaly. By comparative proteomics, we having recently demonstrated that red blood cells from beta-adducin deficient mice are also deficient in NHE1, the sodium-hydrogen exchanger. This represents a breakthrough in understanding the molecular basis for the widespread functions of adducin. Current studies are addressing the interaction between adducin and NHE1, in order to determine how knockout of adducin can lead to loss of NHE1 in red blood cells.